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Frenchman and Algerian national kidnapped by armed men

A Frenchman and an Algerian national were kidnapped by armed men Thursday near Niger's northern town of Inabangaret, close to the Algerian border. The desert region which spans between Niger, Mali and Algeria is notorious for tourist abductions.

AFP - A Frenchman and an Algerian were kidnapped Thursday in northern Niger, close to the Algerian border, Niger security officials said.

"A Frenchman, possibly a tourist, and an Algerian were seized today near Inabangaret close to Algeria," a security source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The two were kidnapped "by armed men", another security source said, adding that the Algerian was the Frenchman's chauffeur.

Tourist abductions are frequent in the vast desert zone between Niger, Mali and Algeria, where Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operates.

Four Europeans were kidnapped in January 2009 in Niger. AQMI later killed the British tourist, but liberated the remaining three.